Activities for Family Fun: 3 Things for Spring
Family Sprouts
Welcome spring with these funny pots that sprout “hair” in just a few days. Terra-cotta pots are inexpensive and easy to paint, but you can use recycled plastic containers instead. Rather than painting the plastic containers, glue on googly eyes and pom-pom noses instead. Don’t forget to make one for the family catcats love to munch on these greens.
You will need:
Terra-cotta pots
Soil
Wheatgrass or oat grass seeds
Acrylic paints
Paintbrushes
Sealer
Instructions:
Paint the pots with acrylic paints to represent family members. Let dry thoroughly.
Spray with sealer to make the paint waterproof. Let dry.
Fill the pots with soil, to about 3/4 inch from the top of the pots. Sprinkle the seeds on the soil, and cover with about 1/4 inch of additional soil.
Cover the pots loosely with plastic wrap, and keep out of direct sunlight for a few days until the sprouts appear. If the soil starts to dry out, gently add a little water (a spray bottle works well for this).
Move the pots to a sunny windowsill. Water when the soil begins to feel dry.
April Fool’s Fun
A good-spirited practical joke among family members is a great way to kick off April. Partner up with different family members to try some of these ideas, and be sure to keep a straight face!
Lunch Capers
If you are packing lunches for the day, try some of these tempting tricks on your kids or spouse. If it’s not a school or work day, pass out these for a snack.
Sneaky Snack
Open a single-serve Pringles container, being careful not to rip the paper that makes the seal. Empty out the chips, and replace with something elsecandy, trail mix, or gummy worms. Glue the paper seal back in place, and put the plastic lid back on.
Dubious Drink
Open a carton of milk, and add a drop of food coloring. Glue the carton shut again. Gently swirl the milk to mix in the food coloring. Be sure to pack a clear plastic drinking straw! You can also do this with a cardboard carton of milk for the morning cereal.
Bad Apple
Carve a small hole in an apple with a knife. Stick the end of a gummy worm in the hole.
Easter Cookie Baskets
Ready-made ingredients make this a quick treat to whip up with your kids to share with friends and family. Work assembly-line style to decorate the cookie baskets so everyone can contribute.
You will need:
Refrigerated cookie dough (sugar or chocolate chip)
Muffin tin
Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup flaked coconut
Plastic zipper bag
Green food coloring
Green decorator icing in a tube
Peeps marshmallow candies
Jellybeans
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (or heat oven to temperature specified on cookie dough). Turn the muffin tin upside and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Unwrap the dough and cut into 1/4-inch slices. Flatten each slice with your hand into a circle about 1/8 inch thick.
Place the dough circles over the backs of the muffin tins. The edge of the cookie should only cover about 1/3 of the cup (you want a shallow cookie cup to prevent breakage).
Bake until cookies are set and just golden on the edges.
Let cool completely on the muffin tin. Remove cookie cups carefully.
Put the coconut in the plastic bag. Add a few drops of green food coloring. Seal the bag and shake until the food coloring is evenly distributed.
Squirt some green frosting into the bottom of the cookie cup. Sprinkle the green coconut on top of the frosting.
Squirt a little frosting on the bottom of the Peeps candy, and stick in the nest. Add a few jellybeans.
___
For more family fun activities, check out Laura Torres’s book 52 Activities for Family Fun: https://familius.com/52-activities-for-family-fun#.UVSEUaFASGs.